Traction device for invalids



ZESQQEQ June 19, 1956 H. BOLGER TRACTION DEVICE FOR INVALIDS Filed May 20, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. HENRY BOLGER ATTORN EYS June 19, 1956 H. BOLGER TRACTION DEVICE FOR INVALIDS ZShaets-Sheet 2 Filed May 20, 1953 INVENTOR.

HENRY BOLGER .II In I all!!! ATTORNEY5 United States Patent TRACTION DEVICE FOR INVALIDS Henry Bolger, Portland, Greg.

Application May 20, 1953, Serial No. 356,150

2 Claims. (Cl. 128-84) My invention relates to traction devices for invalids and is particularly adapted to be used in putting the leg of a patient under traction in hospitals and the like.

One of the primary objects of my invention is to attach a foot pad to the sole of the patients foot by way of straps secured around the upper part of the calf of the leg and around the ankle in such a manner that air can circulate around the patients leg.

Heretofore the traction rope was secured to the patients leg or foot by the wrapping of the leg with gauze. This gauze around the leg of the patient was very irritable and this objection is one that I have overcome with my new and improved traction unit.

Another object of my invention is to design a traction unit to be applied to the framework of the bed that can be adjusted to any shape of bed so that the traction rope will move freely and easily over and through the sheave block forming part of the unit.

These and other incidental objects will be apparent in the drawings, specification and claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 illustrates the leg of a patient under traction with my new and improved traction unit.

Figure 2 is another preferred form of applying the traction straps to the leg of the patient.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of the bed frame, having my new and improved traction unit applied thereto, as taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the bed frame, having my new and improved traction unit mounted thereon. This view is taken on line 44 of Figure 3, partially broken away for convenience of illustration.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the foot pad, taken on line 5--5 of Figure 1, having the foot of the patient removed therefrom.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view, taken on line 6--6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a sectional view, taken on line 77 of Figure 5.

Referring more specifically to the drawings:

My new and improved traction unit consists of a double goose-neck frame 1, which hangs over the rail 2 of the framework 3 of the bed. The frame 1 consists of a pair of vertical disposed bars 4 secured together at their bottom by the web or frame 5 and extending upwardly and bent into a goose-neck 6. The goose-neck hangs over the rail 2 of the bed, extending downwardly at 7 and being bridged together by the bar 8.

The bar 8 has a flexible pad 9 extending thereacross, preferably of rubber. Rubber tubing 10 covers the gooseneck 6 and comes in contact With the rail of the bed 2. Located between the upper ends of the vertical bars 4 is a connecting bar 11. A bolt 12 is threaded through the bar 11. The end 13 of the threaded bolt has the usual ball and socket connection 14 connecting the cross bar 15 thereto.

The cross bar 15 has a flexible covering, as rubber 16, which engages the upright 17 of the bed frame. The

Patented June 19, 1956 ICC outer end of the threaded bolt 12 has a handle bar 18 formed thereon, providing a handle for the operator to thread the bolt through the cross bar 11 of the frame 1, engaging the cross bar 15 with the upright 17 of the bed frame, pulling the cross bar 8 and the rubber pad 9 against the opposite side of the upright 17, clamping the unit 1 to the bed frame, as best illustrated in Figure 4.

Pivotally mounted to the Web or frame 5 of the framework 1 is a turntable 19. This turntable is pivotally connected to this frame by the bolt 20 and is held in any fixed position by the bolt 21 working within the holes 22. The bolt 21 is fixedly secured to the web 5 and enters the holes 22 of the turntable 19, holding the same in any desired position.

Outwardly extending cars 23 form part of the turntable 19 and are adapted to receive the lower ends of the arms 24, which are pivotally connected thereto by way of the bolt 25. These arms are held in any desired position by a pin 26 registering with the holes 27. The pin 26 is anchored to the cars 23, while the holes are located within the ears 28 forming part of the arms 24.

When it is desired to change the angle of the arms as indicated in broken line position, Figure 4, the bolts 25 are loosened and the cars 28 spread away from the cars 23 allowing the holes to register with the pins in the desired position. This principle is of well known practice, but is admirably adapted for positioning the arms of my traction unit to the desired position.

A rope carrying sheave block 29 is rotatably journalled within the bearing 36 of the cross bar 31 by the shoulder bolt 32. The shoulder bolt provides a space 33 between the block and the bar 31 so that the same will rotate on a vertical axis. This keeps the sheave block in alignment with the traction rope 34. The cross bar 31 is also adjustably clamped to the upper ends 24A of the arms 24 by way of bolt 35 so that the angle of the sheave block can be changed in regards to the vertical center line of the arms as desired.

A weight 36 is hung to the lower end of the traction rope by way of the hook 37. In order to secure the rope to the patients leg a foot pad 38 is provided. This foot pad has a soft face of sponge rubber 39 with a suitable covering 44) secured thereto. This covering laps over the edges 41 of the body of the pad 38 and is tied thereto by a draw string 42 so that the same can be removed.

A pair of ears 43 are located on either side of the foot pad body 38 and are formed as an integral part therewith, as illustrated in the broken away portion of Figure 5. These ears have slots 43A in which the straps 43B are secured by passing therethrough and brought back through the buckles 43C and stitched together as indicated at 43D. The shape of these straps and their manner of connecting to the car 43 is important as they stabilize the foot pad when secured to the patients leg.

A band 45 is adapted to encircle the patients leg and is laced thereon by the lacing 48. This band has straps 44 which are adapted to enter one of the buckles 43C of the straps 43B on each side of the foot and be cinched up to the proper tension, thereby holding the pad 38 to the underside of the patients foot. The pad is further held to the patients leg by the band 47 which encircles the ankle of the patient and is laced thereon by the lacing 48.

Straps 47A form part of the ankle band 47 and are adapted to be brought through one of the buckles 43C as illustrated in Figure l, assisting in the holding of the pad 38 against the foot of the patients foot. Neither of the bands 45 or 47 will irritate the leg or ankle of the patient as does the present system of wrapping the leg with gauze in order to secure a fitting to which the rope 34 can be secured thereto.

These bands may take the form as illustrated in Figagreo ee ure 2 wherein a strap 49 forms part of the end 50 of the band, and it is threaded through the slot 51 of the opposite end 53 of the band and brought around the leg and secured to the buckle 52, which is secured to the end 53 of the band 45. A bar 54, having an I-bolt 55, is secured to the underside of the foot pad 38, and is adapted to receive the end 56 of the traction rope 34, as best illustrated in Figure 1.

I will now describe the operation of my new and improved traction unit. The threaded bolt 12 is threaded so as to back the cross bar 15 towards the connecting bar 11, then the goose-neck 6 is hung over the rail 2 of the bed frame, after which the operator threads the bolt 12 so as to bring the goose-neck. 15 against the vertical merry bers 17 of the bed frame, clamping the said vertical mernber between the bar 3 and the adjustable bar 15, as best illustrated in Figure 4.

Next the vertical arms 24 are adjusted to a vertical position. This is especially necessary when the frame 2 of the bed is a circular type. In order to do this the bolt 21 of the turntable 19 is removed and placed so that the turntable can be revolved about the bolt 2%}, after which the same is locked in another position, positioning the arms 24 in a relatively vertical position.

The pad 38 is then applied to the foot of the patient while the straps 44- are threaded through the buckles 43C and secured thereto. Also the straps 47A of the ankle band 47 are secured to these buckles by the same method.

i The traction rope 34 is then tied to the I-bolt 55 which permits the rope to pass over the sheave block 29. The weight 56, of a desirable poundage, is then hung on to he hook 37, applying the proper traction to the patients leg.

What is claimed is:

1. In a traction means, a leg band adapted to encircle a leg adjacent the knee, an ankle band, a relatively rigid plate engageable against the bottom of a foot, a pair of straps connect d between said leg band and said plate, said pair straps diverging from said band forwardly of said leg, a pair of straps connected between said ankle and said plate, and a ring extending from said plate for connection with a weight.

2. In a traction means, a leg band adapted to encircle a leg adjacent the knee, an ankle band, a relatively rigi plate engageable against the bottom of a foot, a pair of straps connected between said leg band and said plate, said pair oi straps diverging from said band forwardly of said leg, 8. pair of straps connected between said ankle band and said plate, a padding carried by said plate confronting the bottom of the foot, etc.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,296,128 Siebrant Mar. 4, 1919 1,479,535 Ferragarno Jan. 1, 1924 1,698,387 Gould Nov. 23, 1926 

